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Tuesday 7:OOp.m. to our Alameda City Council meeting, Feb 21st. The council meets at 2263 Santa Clara Ave - hope to see you there!
Join us at the City Council on TUESDAY, November 21 st at 7:30 P.M.
Who is John Murtha? – John Murtha is a decorated Korean and Vietnam War Veteran. He represents Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. “It is a socially conservative, blue-collar district whose once thriving steel mills now languish. Bush lost the district by only 8,000 votes in 2004 and John Murtha has represented it for 16 terms. One wouldn't expect to find rising opposition to the war here…
Given the district's large veteran population and conservative political tendencies, a surprising number of constituents -- including veterans -- expressed virtually unqualified support for Murtha's newly-stated position that the Iraq conflict has no military solution.
“Murtha is a compelling figure: The first Vietnam veteran elected to Congress, he has been a good friend to the military for decades, and he is the furthest thing from a dove in the US Congress. The Washington Post referred to Murtha as the "Democrats' soldier-legislator." It seems clear that Murtha is close to those in the military who understand this occupation is unwinnable…
Murtha, of course, has reached similar conclusions about the absence of progress in Iraq and about the mounting human costs of our failed strategy. Murtha, for instance, keeps track of how many of his constituents have died in Iraq (13) and frequently visits the wounded recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center.
One of his constituents, the New York Times reported, is Private Salvatore Ross Jr., who lost part of his leg and is now blind because of a landmine explosion. Murtha helped the soldier receive special treatment at John Hopkins Medical Center, and the Times reported that Murtha "arranged a ceremony in Private Ross's hometown, where he received a Purple Heart."
Resolution calling upon steps to withdraw our Reservists, Coast Guard Units and members of the California National Guard troops from Iraq.
WHEREAS, The City of Alameda strongly supports the women and men serving in the United States Armed Forces in Iraq and recognizes the sacrifices that each of them is making, including those made by Alamedans in active and reserve units of the services, our local U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Unit, our local Coast Guard units, and members of the California National Guard,
WHEREAS, the costs of deploying U.S. troops, in particular the call-up of our reservists and members of the California National Guard for deployment in Iraq have been significant, as determined in lost lives, combat injuries, psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individuals, families, and businesses, interruption of careers, and,
WHEREAS, the continued deployment of the California National Guard and Coast Guard units to Iraq puts Alameda and many California communities at risk in the event of a natural disaster, such as a major earthquake or storm,
WHEREAS, the costs have resulted in unprecedented Federal budget deficits, which have and will effect the State of California and Alameda directly,
RESOLVED, that the City Council of Alameda supports the principles stated HJR 73 (Murtha) calls for an identified date for withdrawing all troops, and in California AJR 36 (Hancock), which calls for the immediate withdrawal of the California National Guard, and
RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Alameda calls upon the President, Congress and the Governor of California to take immediate steps to establish a date and timetable to withdraw U.S. troops, including our reservists and the California National Guard, from Iraq and pursue a diplomatic approach to resolving the remaining conflicts,
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Alameda sends a copy of this Resolution to President Bush, each member of the California Congressional Delegation, Governor Schwarzenegger, the President Pro Tempore of the California Senate and our state representatives
Via Julie at Alameda Peace Network
Be there + be counted as this council decides to adopt the resolution to bring home our guard! The Council discussed the resolution at the last meeting: they will vote on it this meeting, which is why it is SOOOOO important for you to come! We've heard pro-war forces could be gathering so we need to make sure we've lots of hot pink presence!FIVE Reasons for you to Stand Up and Speak Out in Support of the Iraq Resolution (Please see below) at the Tuesday, February 21st City Council Meeting
- The war in Iraq has made us less secure at home. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that the diversion of financial resources to Iraq and the deployment of the National Guard to Iraq has reduced the capability of governments at all levels to protect the American people in the event of a major disaster. Despite repeated warnings from the New Orleans Project Manager of the Army Corps of Engineer, Alfred Naomi, the Bush Administration and Republican Congress kept cutting funding needed to build and improve levees, floodwalls and pumping stations. One reason that thousands of people were stranded without food or water was that 35% of the Louisiana National Guard, some 6,000 Guard members, were deployed in Iraq. (1)
- The war in Iraq has fueled terrorism at a tremendous cost in American and Iraqi lives. “The war in Iraq is fueling terrorism, not eliminating it. Our continued military presence feeds the strong anti-foreigner fervor that has existed in this part of the world for centuries. Over 80 percent of Iraqis want U.S. forces to leave and 47 percent think it is justified to attack Americans.” (2) The war in Iraq has resulted in the loss of 2274 American lives, 16,653 American soldiers wounded and tens of thousands Iraqi’s killed. (3)
- The Cost of the war in Iraq is resulting in dozens of reductions to programs benefiting ordinary American citizens and creating a financial debt which our children will have to shoulder for generations. The cost of the wars in Iraq and Aghanistan has reached $440 billion. That outlay is almost equal to the amount spent on the 13 year war in Vietnam. (4) Economists Linda Blimes and Joe Stiglitz increase to a “moderate” estimate of $1.3 trillion when all past and expected federal budget outlays related to the war are counted. Currently the monthly average cost of military operations in both Iraq and Aghanistan is $7.1 billion enough with one year of expenditures to rebuild the City of New Orleans including levees that would withstand category 5 hurricanes. (5). The current budget plans cuts to dozens of social programs including health care for low income and elderly, student loans, affordable housing, veterans healthcare and and many more.
- The war in Iraq and the Global War on Terror are undermining our Democracy and Freedom at home. The Bush Administration’s recent assertion that the resolution authorizing the War in Iraq gives the Administration right to monitor American phone and E Mail communications without seeking authorization under the FISA law is only the latest expansion of Executive power over the Congress, the Courts and the People. Other Big Brother Government actions have included the right to detain citizen’s indefinitely without charging them or allowing them legal counsel, the right to monitor people’s reading in libraries and bookstores, the right to video peaceful demonstrations and monitor the meetings of groups who peacefully oppose the Administration’s policies.
- Only citizen action can create the political pressure to bring the troops home. The Republicans have been steadfastly opposed to a timetable for withdrawal claiming that Iraq is the central front in a Global War on Terror which will last for many years. The national Democratic Party leadership is split on the question of withdrawal and, therefore, has been unable to mount a unified opposition to the War in Iraq. In this state of political drift, only citizen’s grassroots actions of all types can force the Iraq War onto the national agenda. We have seen how Cindy Sheehan’s initiative sparked a national debate. City Councils are an important democratic forum for carrying on these critical discussions as well.
Join us at the City Council on TUESDAY, November 21 st at 7:30 P.M.
Who is John Murtha? – John Murtha is a decorated Korean and Vietnam War Veteran. He represents Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. “It is a socially conservative, blue-collar district whose once thriving steel mills now languish. Bush lost the district by only 8,000 votes in 2004 and John Murtha has represented it for 16 terms. One wouldn't expect to find rising opposition to the war here…
Given the district's large veteran population and conservative political tendencies, a surprising number of constituents -- including veterans -- expressed virtually unqualified support for Murtha's newly-stated position that the Iraq conflict has no military solution.
“Murtha is a compelling figure: The first Vietnam veteran elected to Congress, he has been a good friend to the military for decades, and he is the furthest thing from a dove in the US Congress. The Washington Post referred to Murtha as the "Democrats' soldier-legislator." It seems clear that Murtha is close to those in the military who understand this occupation is unwinnable…
Murtha, of course, has reached similar conclusions about the absence of progress in Iraq and about the mounting human costs of our failed strategy. Murtha, for instance, keeps track of how many of his constituents have died in Iraq (13) and frequently visits the wounded recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center.
One of his constituents, the New York Times reported, is Private Salvatore Ross Jr., who lost part of his leg and is now blind because of a landmine explosion. Murtha helped the soldier receive special treatment at John Hopkins Medical Center, and the Times reported that Murtha "arranged a ceremony in Private Ross's hometown, where he received a Purple Heart."
Katrina vanden Heuvel, John Murtha's Johnstown December 5, 2005 by The Nation , http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1205-27.htm
(1) September 2, 2005 Katrina Compounded, Matthew Rothschild, The Progressive, http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0902-26.htm"
(2) A Letter to President Bush
By Rep. John Murtha, HuffingtonPost.com
Posted on February 3, 2006, Printed on February 19, 2006
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/31746)
(3) Iraq Coalition Casualty Count http://icasualties.org/oif/
(4) February 4, 2006 by the Guardian/UK , Cost of Wars Soars to $440 Billion for US, http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0204-02.htm
(5) The Human Cost of War by Cindy Sheehan and Sam Bostaph
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/06/02/con06064.html
Resolution calling upon steps to withdraw our Reservists, Coast Guard Units and members of the California National Guard troops from Iraq.
WHEREAS, The City of Alameda strongly supports the women and men serving in the United States Armed Forces in Iraq and recognizes the sacrifices that each of them is making, including those made by Alamedans in active and reserve units of the services, our local U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Unit, our local Coast Guard units, and members of the California National Guard,
WHEREAS, the costs of deploying U.S. troops, in particular the call-up of our reservists and members of the California National Guard for deployment in Iraq have been significant, as determined in lost lives, combat injuries, psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individuals, families, and businesses, interruption of careers, and,
WHEREAS, the continued deployment of the California National Guard and Coast Guard units to Iraq puts Alameda and many California communities at risk in the event of a natural disaster, such as a major earthquake or storm,
WHEREAS, the costs have resulted in unprecedented Federal budget deficits, which have and will effect the State of California and Alameda directly,
RESOLVED, that the City Council of Alameda supports the principles stated HJR 73 (Murtha) calls for an identified date for withdrawing all troops, and in California AJR 36 (Hancock), which calls for the immediate withdrawal of the California National Guard, and
RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Alameda calls upon the President, Congress and the Governor of California to take immediate steps to establish a date and timetable to withdraw U.S. troops, including our reservists and the California National Guard, from Iraq and pursue a diplomatic approach to resolving the remaining conflicts,
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Alameda sends a copy of this Resolution to President Bush, each member of the California Congressional Delegation, Governor Schwarzenegger, the President Pro Tempore of the California Senate and our state representatives
Via Julie at Alameda Peace Network
